Means for providing variable capacity highways



June 23 1942- o. K. JELINEK MEANS FOR PROVIDING VARIABLE CAPACITYHIGHWAYS' Filed Aug. 3, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l MNM INVENTOR. /w/CATTORNEYS.

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MEANS FOR PROVIDING VARIABLE CAPACITY HIGHWAYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 mvENToR.

ATTORNEYS June 23, 1942. o. K. JELINEK MEANS FOR PROVIDING VARIABLECAPACITY HIGHWAYS Filed Aug. 5, 1940 June z3, 1942. f o, K. JEL|NEK-2,287,685

MEANS FOR PROVIDING VARIABLE CAPACITY HIGHWAYSl Filed Aug. 3, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet lv. ,y u Q@ 20 21 /l/l/ll lll/11111] 111/ y' INVENTR.

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ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 23, 1942 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE MEANS FOR PROVIDINGVARIABLE CAPACITY HIGHWAYS 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in means for providing variablecapacity or convertible highways and is a further development of theconstructionshown in my Patent 2,182,697

issued December 5, 1939.

The general object of the invention is to provide improvedpower-actuated means and accessories for raising and lowering the curbor curbs which define the traffic lanes.

Other objects are: to improve the construction of the curb itself; toprovi-de fluid pressure actuated mechanism of compact form which may belocated in the vtrough in which the curb is mounted; to provide.vertical power actuated jacks at intervals in the channel or trough forraising the curb section, each curb section being lifted by two or morejacks; to provide means for so connecting the adjacent ends of curbsections as to provide a flexible or universal joint which in turn isdirectly supported by one of the jacks, whereby each ofl said sectionsis supported on said jacks at opposite ends thereof; to provide metalcastings or wear 'plates in the side walls oi the concrete trough toguide the curb sections in theirl up and down movement inde- 1 in upperposition by snow and ice in winter; f

to 'provide the curb sections with a layer of the same kind of pavingmaterial on the top thereof as is used in the main highway so as toavoid skidding; to provide an improved hollow vertically adjustable curbhaving a source of illumina- Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one section ofsteel curbing, without the upper layer of 'paving thereon;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation through one of theconcrete lined troughs or trenches showing a length of curb therein,with many details omitted;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the wear castings;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section, somewhat simplified, throughone of the trenches showing the curb in uppermost position;

Fig. 10 is another transverse section showing the curb in lowermostposition and the compression springs extended;

Fig.' 11 is a short section at right angles of Fig.

Fig. l2 is a section showing theilluminating feature;

Fig. 13 is an elevation invention; v

Fig. 14 is a partial plan- View of the flexible joint showing thestructural details;

Fig. l5 is a section thereof on the line |5--I5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a view of the hydraulic jack of Fig. 13 in elevated position;

Fig. 17 is a sectional View of an illuminating cabinet;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view thereof;

,Fig 19 is a perspective View of a modied fitting apparatus;

l Fig. 20 is a sectional elevation of a further lifting apparatus; i

Fig. 21 is a similar view showing the curb elevated;

Fig. 22 is a diagram of` and Fig. 23 is a perspective view 'of anadditional modication. I" Y In Fig. 1 there is shownA somewhatdiagrammatically a top plan view of a highway having sufficient lanesfor eightcars, side by side, but divided by curbsV into four doublelanes. The outside curbs I0, I0, are of the usual construction. Thethree intermediate curbs Il are flush of a modied form of the anothermodification;

with the pavement part of the time, but each or all of them may beraised so that they will project suiiiciently to constitute an eiectivebarrier or curb, when required.

These curbs l I and the trenches I2 or slots in the pavement in whichthey are confined, are shown somewhat diagrammatically in section, andon a larger scale, in Fig. 2.

Assuming that the traic toward the business district of a city is mainlysouthbound, as during the morning rush hours, the three left hand doublelanes are made available for traic, as shown in Fig. 2, i. e. the twoleft hand movable curbs are retained in lowermost position in thetrenches or troughs, with their tops ush with the level of the pavement.The right hand one of the three curbs is shown as raised to itsuppermost position, thus providing a double northbond lane and threesouthbound double lanes. In other words, two traffic lanes are providedfor northbound vehicles and six are provided for southbound vehicles.

During the evening rush hours when the traflic is mainly in the oppositedirection, the right hand movable curb is lowered and the left handmovable curb is raised, thus providing for six northbound traffic lanesand two southbound traic lanes. At other times of the day the middlecurb only may be raised, thus providing four northbound traic lanes andfour southbound traic lanes.

In the commercial installation now described hereiny the movable curbsare made preferably in twenty-five foot lengths and may have a width ofabout twenty inches and a vertical height of about sixteen inches andare commonly referred to as fins. One of these curb sections I3l isshown in Fig. 3. The said trenches I2 are made preferably of concrete,as shown in Figs. 2, 9 and 10.

Each curb length is supported on two hydraulic jacks I4, I4, which reston suitable concrete foundations in the trenches and are spaced atregular intervals. Each length, as shown in section in Figs. 10 and 11,is made preferably with steel side plates I5 connected by a cross plateI6, welded thereto a few inches below the top, which provides an upperchannel to be fllled with concrete or other paving material similar tothe main paving on theroad. The lower sides of the plates I5 arereinforced by horizontal flanges I'I which may be welded thereto asshown, or may be rolled integrally therewith. The lower part of the curbhas the form of a hollow box-like structure. Said curb is guided in itsup and down movement by lugs I8, I8, as shown in Fig. 10, which lugsslide up and down against vertical guides provided by suitable bracketsI 5 imbedded in the concrete on each side.

A pair of vertical rods 20, 20, as shown also in Fig. l0, have theirupper ends secured to the cross plate I6 and at their lower ends areturned outwardly and upwardly in the form of hooks to support the lowerend of the helical spring 2|, which in said ligure are extended themaximum amount, with the upper end confined by the plate 22 which issecured to the upper end of the rod 23, the lower end of which isanchored in the concrete. When the power is applied to raise the curb inthe manner hereinafter described, the curb, as it lifts, carries with itthe rods 20, 2U, which compress the springs 2I in each case until thecurb reaches its uppermost position, Shown in Fig. 9.

When the power is released, the springs elongate and lower it.Ordinarily lthe curb would lower of its own weight except when the curbbecomes jammed or obstructed in uppermost position, due to ice formingin winter, or other obstructions. The main purpose of the springs is toovercome the initial resistance, after which the curb will sink of itsown weight. Lateral braces or channel plates 24 are positionedtransversely adjacent each jack and are welded extension of foot 25secured to it which rests on a seat or stop 26 to limit the downwardmovement of the curb, i. e. the curb rests on said seat normally when inlowermost position, in which position it supports the weight ofautomobiles running over it.

Each curb is raised preferably by two uid pressure actuated jacks I4, aspreviously stated, one of the jacks being shown in section in Fig. 1l.It comprises a cylinder 21 mounted on a suitable base, with a concreteor other footing 28 under it and it is provided with a hollow piston 29in the form of a cylinder closed at the lower end. The hydraulicpressure, i. e. the fluid under pressure preferably in the form of oil,is pumped through suitable pipes to the cylinder and through the lowerport 30, and as the piston is lifted it raises the short vertical shaft3l which rests in the seat in the bottom thereof and extends above thepiston, being received in an inverted cup-shaped seat 32, welded orotherwise secured to the cross plate I6 of the curb. This provides aloose connection which permits operation of the curb despite slightirregularities during the up and down movement.

Assuming that the roadway equipped with these curbs is several mileslong, it is preferably operated as a number of separate divisions. Eachdivision may have a separate pump station and distribution station toactuate any one or two or all three lines of curbing. Ordinarily, onlyone length of curbing is operated at a time but all the 25 foot lengthsof curbing in a composite unit may be operated simultaneously. Forexample, a length of curbing of 300 feet may first be raised a distanceof a few inches, followed immediately by another similar length, as thefirst length continues to rise, and so on with other sections, giving astepped arrangement. Suitable switches at the control station start thetrain of movements. The lifting action may be said to be in the form ofa wave action, the movement of the wave being about 20 M. P. H. or anyother desired rate. The mechanism for accomplishing this progressiveoperation is similar to `that used in operating traflic signals so as tomay be one or more hand hole covers 35 proin place as shown. Each brace24 has a metal 75 vided, which may be unscrewed to give access to theincandescent lamp 36 immediately beneath the same. In opposite sides ofthe curb are glass lenses 31 or bulls-eyes (see Fig. 12) so that whenthe curb is raised, it will be readily seen at night. The conductors 38may extend throughout the length of each section with a flexibleconnection to the next unit to provide for up and down movement ofadjacent sections.

A modified form of this feature is shown in Figs. 17, 18, in which theincandescent light and the lenses are mounted near the ends of the curblength as a unit 40, to be slid in from one side of the curb when thelatter is in elevated position. The lenses 4I are mounted in oppositeends of the box-like structure, which latter has resilient circuitcontacts 42 beneath the same, adapted to contact with circuit contacts43 permanently mounted in the curb section. When pushed into place thecircuit is closed by said contacts. This eliminates the necessity of thehand hole covers.

Wear plates 45 are welded onto the sides of the curb at regularintervals of about five feet to slide up and down on the wear castings4B now" described. A(See Fig, 10.)

The castings 46, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and elsewhere, serve toreinforce the side walls of the trench and provide a metal facing forthe slot through which the curb moves up and down. These castings may beabout ve feet long and are provided with intermediate, transverse arms4l' having enlarged heads to anchor in the concrete, and with transverseend plates 48 (see Figs. 5 and 8). These castings are bolted to thebrackets IS which provide a vertical abutment against which the lugs I8slide to prevent longitudinal movement of the curb (see Figs. 3 and l).In the form shown, there are five castings 45 for each curb section.

These castings not only serve to guide the up and down movement of thecurbs, making it possible to provide a loose connection between theelevating mechanism and the under part of the jacks, but said castingsenable the curb to resist the heavy side thrusts received from time totime when automobiles accidentally run against the side of the curb orwhere cars are thrown against the curb in automobile accidents.

Another form of curb is shown in simplified form in Fig. 13 in which thejacks are connected with adjacent ends of curb lengths instead of beingpositioned intermediate the ends. Each jack 50, for example, ispositioned between the adjacent ends l, 5I of the individual lengths ofcurb, each of which has a slot in the end. A plate is received in eachof the slots and provides a exible joint between the curb sections andthe jack on which it rests. This construction is shown more in detail inFigs. 14 and 15 in which each end of the curb is provided with a casting52 providing the slot referred to. In the left hand slot, shown in Fig.l5, is fitted a casting or hinge member 53 the shape of which is evidentfrom Fig. 14, and in the right hand slot there is provided anothercasting or hinge member 54, which members have circular enlargements oropenings to receive a hinge pin 55. About the middle of the pin 5.5 is athird casting 56 which has an extension plate 57, shown in Fig. l5,bolted to the top plate 58 of the jack assembly so that the hingedstructure rests on the jack and spring assembly. The clearances betweenthe hinged members and the walls of the slot are suilicient to permitthe sections to be raised with one end slightly in advance of the other,providing a gradual incline and also it permits the curb to follow theup and down undulations of a rolling road as well as to provide lateralclearance for right and left curves.

In some cases the power station is located in a suitable enclosure atthe side of the road with the connecting pipe lines running to each ofthe several trenches in which the curbs and jacks are located. In othercases a separate power station or pumping unit is installed in eachtrench, as shown :for example in Fig. 23 hereinafter described. 'Ihepumping units are provided with a remote control so that they may beoperated together or independently from a distance. These controls maybe time controls if desired, to operate the curbs automatically atcertain times of the day.

Fig. 19 shows in perspective a modified arrangement for applying thelifting power. The motor driven compressor 60 develops the necessarypower to move the plunger 6I horizontally in the concrete trough. thustending to straighten the arms 62, 63 of the toggle member, the upperone of which raises the plate 64 which supports the adjacent ends of theconcrete curb 65. The spring arrangement 65 may be similar to thatpreviously described. With this arrangement the plunger or pistonoperates horizontally instead of vertically, thus making it possible toinstall the equipment in the limited space provided by the trench or aslight enlargement thereof.

Various other mechanical arrangements may be used, whereby the piston,plunger or jack may be mounted in a comparatively limitd space and itspower made eifective in an upwardly and downwardly direction. Where acylinder and piston are employed the fluid pressure may be used, ofcourse, to move the piston downwardly as well as upwardly, thusdispensing with some or all of the springs, if conditions permit.

In the constructions thus far described, the power is supplied by fluidunder high pressure in excess of one thousand pounds per square inch andample storage or ample pump capacity is required as the duid pressuremust be used in a short interval of time. For example, the curbs areraised in about ten to thirty seconds, depending on conditions. In orderto avoid the difculty of furnishing this large capacity in a limitedspace, I have provided, as in Fig. 20, a modied arrangement in which thepower is stored in powerful springs which may be put under compressiongradually over a long period of time.

The drawing is somewhat diagrammatic, showing a curb 61 which may beraisedby a spring or springs 68. As shown, the spring is compressedbetween the end of the latch seat 69 and the plate 10, the latter beingmoved by the plunger Il of a ram or jack. The lowermost position of theplate 'l0 is shown in dotted lines and the spring, although expandedsomewhat, is under considerable compression and exerts a substantialminimum thrust in this position. As the plunger ll moves upwardly, andafter the curb has reached its upper position, the spring is compressedto its maximum amount, assuming the position shown in Fig. 21 in whichthe plate 10 is locked by the spring latches l2 to the lower rim of thelatch seat E9.

During this upward movement the other springs 13 have been compressedand tend to lower the curb, which, however, remains in its uppermostposition as long as the power continues to be applied to the jack. Inorder to lower the curb the power is released, whereupon the weight ofthe curb, aided by said springs, causes it to descend in the mannerpreviously described. The plunger il, as it descends, carries the latchseat B9 and the spring with it, in locked position.

When it is desired to raise the curb, the power is again applied and asthe plunger 'Il starts to lift, the latches are automatically tripped,whereupon the curb is raised rapidly by the expansion of the powerfulspring 68. The plunger continues to move upwardly slowly under thepressure supplied by the system and thus the energy is again stored inthe spring over a long interval of time.

The mechanism just described is shown in vertical position but it ispreferably mounted in horizontal position in the space available in thetrench and in such position, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 22, maybe applied to a series of toggle levers which move the curb verticallywhen the power is applied horizontally. In this figure the springcompression mechanism just described is shown as a whole at 15,including the spring 68.

The toggle mechanism I6 has its upper'end engaging beneath the curb 'Iland is provided with additional springs 18, 18, which correspond to thesprings I3 in Fig. 20, i. e. when they expand they lower the curb.

Fig. 23 shows a curb construction in which the actuating mechanism islocated within the curb itself. The curb 8U is elevated by jacks 8| in amanner similar to what has been described, the jack resting on a xedfoundation 82 in the trench. The springs 83 operate in the mannerpreviously described, being mounted on rods some of which are anchoredin the base of the trough. The motor driven compressor 84 is located inthe curb and the supply pipe 85 extends therefrom to the jacks 8|. 86 isthe return tank. The curb is provided with hinged sections 81 to renderthe mechanism available.

When drivers of cars are approaching the portion of the road Where theinstallation of the curbs begins and where it is desired to move part ofthe trailic over into the narrower of the two lanes, I may provide theequipment shown in Fig. 1 where the diagonal curb section 88 is raisedfrom the roadway, from the end of the middle As the curbs rise andcompress the springs, the

limit of upward movement of the curb can be determined by the springsthemselves. However, it is preferable in many cases to provide apositive stop, as for example a piston on the plunger or piston rodengaging the end of the cylinder.

Also, it is evident from the location of some of the fluid actuatedplungers shown in the drawings that said plungers or piston rods maymove either vertically, horizontally or in any other desired positionand connected by suitable mechanism to the curb or barrier. Also,certain parts of the equipment described may obviously be used with orwithout other parts.

I claim:

1. In a highway construction, the combination with a pavement having alongitudinal slot therein, of jacks positioned in said slot atintervals, a vertically movable curb arranged in sections end to endnear the top of said slot and means at the upper end of each jackconnected to the adjacent ends of two of said sections, whereby eachsection is provided with two jacks to raise the same, depending memberson said curb sections each supporting a compression spring near thelower end thereof, relatively xed abutments for the upper ends of saidsprings and means for applying uid pressure to said jacks to raise saidcurb sections and to compress said springs, whereby said curb sectionsmay descend under the influence of said springs when said fluid pressureis released.

2. A highway construction as in claim 1, in which said depending membersand said springs are arranged in groups with a spring on each side ofeach of said jacks.

3. Means for dividing highways into separate lanes comprising a concretetrough having vertical guard members imbedded in the side walls, a curbsection iitting between said guard members, a plurality of uid pressurejacks on which said curb section is supported, supply pipes to each ofsaid jacks to permit actuation of the same and raise said section, saidcurb having an H cross section with paving material in the upper channelflush with the top thereof, depending groups of rods secured to thetransverse plate of said H section and having upturned lower ends toseat a vertical, helical spring, a stop plate for the upper end of eachof said springs, and a holding rod for said plate anchored in the bottomof said trough whereby upward movement of said curb compresses saidsprings and insures subsequent downward movement of said curb when saiduid pressure is released.

4. A highway construction comprising a concrete lined trench, a curblength loosely tted therein, a plurality of fluid pressure jacks seatedin said trench and supporting said curb with its top normally ush withthe side walls of said trench, said curb comprising vertical metalplates connected by a transverse plate, two pairs of depending rodssecured to said transverse plate, each pair being spaced from the other,an anchoring rod between each pair of depending rods, a helical springsurrounding the three rods of each group and having its lower endsupported by said depending rods and its upper end coniined by saidanchoring rod whereby upward movement of said curb compresses saidsprings and whereby release of the iiuid pressure in said jacksinitiates the downward movement of said curbs under their own weight,when retarded by ice and other obstructions.

5. A pavement construction comprising a concrete lined trenchintermediate the sides of the roadway, a series of fluid pressure jacksmounted vertically on the bottom of said trench in uniformly spacedrelationship, a vertically movable curb above said jacks, a seatadjacent the base of said jacks, a vertical support secured to the underside of said curb and resting on said seat to limit the downwardmovement thereof, said jacks each having a vertical support alsoengaging the under side of said curb to raise and support the same, andguide members in the sides of said trench to provide lateral movement ofsaid curb in its up and down movement.

6. In a construction comprising a trench having means therein forraising and lowering a barrier to provide traflic lanes, a fluidpressure operated plunger, a compression spring having one end connectedto said barrier and having the other end connected to said plunger totransmit its thrust to said barrier and raise the same, and to compresssaid spring against the resistance of said barrier when in its uppermostposition, means for latching said spring in compressed position to storeenergy, an additional spring connected to said barrier and put undertension when the same is raised, whereby upon release of said fluidpressure said last mentioned spring lowers said barrier causing saidiirst mentioned spring and plunger to return to initial position as aunit with said spring held in compressed condition, and means forunlatching said spring during the initial lifting movement of saidplunger, whereby the expansion of said spring raises said barrier andwhereby upon the reapplication of iluid pressure to said plunger thenecessary energy may be stored in said rst mentioned spring at a slowrate so as to enable said barrier to be raised thereby subsequently, ata rapid rate.

7. In a highway construction, a trench substantially parallel to andbetween the sides of the highway, and having side walls, alongitudinally arranged sectional curb fitting therein, means forraising and lowering said curb whereby it may project above the sides ofsaid trench to separate said highway into independent lanes, or it maybe lowered flush with the top of said trench, incandescent lamps withinsaid curb sections and transparent members in the side walls thereofwhereby when said curb is elevated it becomes visible at night, saidcurb sections being of hollow construction from end to end withelectrical conductors extending therethrough, connected to saidilluminating means and flexibly connected with the conductors of theadjacent section, whereby the circuit to said electrical illuminatingmeans may be maintained when one section is raised or lowered somewhatin advance of the next section, said incandescent lamps being mounted inslidable carriages which may be inserted in or withdrawn from the curbthrough openings in the sides thereof.

8. In a paving construction, a concrete conduit having longitudinalreinforcing castings lining the open top thereof with lateral extensionsimbedded in the side walls thereof, brackets also imbedded in said sidewalls, at spaced intervals below said open top and having verticalextensions thereon to provide wear resisting surfaces, a curb verticallyadjustable in and out of the top of said conduit between said castingsand positioned against lateral thrusts by said Wear resisting surfaces,said curb having a, lug on each side thereof positioned adjacent saidvertical extensions to prevent longitudinal movement of said curb.

9. In a highway construction, the combination with a pavement having alongitudinal slot therein, of jacks positioned in said slot atintervals, a vertically movable curb arranged in sections end to endnear the top of said slot, pivotal means at the upper end of each jackconnected to the adjacent ends of two of said sections, whereby eachsection is provided with two jacks to raise the same, supply pipes toeach of said jacks to permit actuation thereof whereby, by supplyingfluid pressure simultaneously to all of the jacks of a plurality of curbsections, said sections may be raised as a composite unit, followed bythe raising of another composite unit, said pivotal means between theends of said sections permitting progressive elevation of said curb as awhole.

10. In a highway construction, the combination with a pavement having aslot therein substantially parallel to and between the sides of` thepavement, of jacks positioned in said slot at intervals, a verticallymovable curb in said slot arranged in sections end to end with theirupper surfaces substantially flush with said pavement, said sectionsbeing supported by said jacks, intercommunicating supply pipes to eachof said jacks to supply fluid pressure thereto, to raise said sectionssimultaneously or in succession, whereby said highway is divided by saidcurb into two independent roadways of predetermined width when said curbis in elevated position, and consists of a single unobstructed roadwayas wide as said combined independent roadways, when said curb is inlowered position.

11. In a highway construction, the combination with a pavement having aplurality of slots therein to divide the same into a number ofindividual roadways in excess of the number of slots, of jackspositioned in each of said slots at intervals, a vertically movable curbarranged in sections end to end in each of said slots and mounted onsaid jacks with the upper surfaces of said sections substantially flushwith said pavement to provide a single composite roadway of a widthequal to the combined widths of said individual roadways, supply pipesconnected to a single source of pressure and to each of said jacks tosupply uid pressure thereto to raise said sections, whereby by elevatingone curb and retaining the others in flush position, any

